Covington Catholic juniors Brandon Smith and Phoenix Parks earned the highest finish for a Northern Kentucky high school team over the weekend at the KHSAA Operation UNITE Bass Fishing State Championships.
The duo trekked down to Kentucky Lake in Western Kentucky to compete with the top 87 qualifying teams for the state tournament. Smith and Parks had a two-day, 10 bass total of 31 pounds, seven ounces. The weight and placement had them in fourth place after day one on Friday, jumping up two spots on day two on Saturday and taking home runner-up honors.
“It’s all about confidence. They went in as an underdog, jumped Muhlenberg County and Trinity and just started building confidence,” Covington Catholic coach Robb Schneeman said. “The finish brings the program to light. It’s our seventh season having a team and it continues to grow each year.”
Muhlenberg County’s Isaiah Smith and Spencer Shemwell took home first place with a two-day, 10 bass total of 40 pounds, two ounces.
Smith and Parks teamed up this season after Smith’s partner graduated last year and the two finished with an impressive showing after placing 21st in the region tournament.
“All of our success points toward our boat captain. Nothing is possible without him,” Parks said.
The boat captain is very familiar with Parks’ teammate, it’s Brandon Smith’s father.
“I grew up in a fishing family, my dad takes care of it all for us,” Smith said.
Smith’s father, Bill, was a professional angler for years.
“He sees every aspect of it. Knows where to place our boat, where to cast, stuff like that,” Brandon Smith said.
For Parks, fishing was just a hobby of his throughout grade school and started to pick up the sport a little more his freshman year when he joined the team. The two regularly fish on Lake Cumberland and will spend their time this summer working on their craft and getting better.
“This finish opens up the realms of possibility,” Parks said. “There’s just so much potential on what we can do next year.”
Parks and Smith were one of four NKY teams to compete in the tournament.
Covington Catholic’s second boat of Sam and Eli Scroggins finished in 19th place with a two-day, nine bass total of 22 pounds, two ounces. Fred Scroggins was Sam and Eli’s boat captain.
Bishop Brossart’s Lincoln Schabell and Carson Schultz finished 45th with a two-day, six bass total of 12 pounds, 10 ounces.
Simon Kenton’s Mason Stewart and Jake Taulbee finished right behind the Bishop Brossart pair in 46th with a two-day, six bass total of 12 pounds, nine ounces.